Democrat Joanne Benson did not vote. Democrat Jennie Forehand and Republican George Edwards were absent.

The bill faces an uncertain future in the House, where the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Joe Vallario has opposed the bill in the past.

This week, he told WBAL News he has some concerns about the impact of the bill on teens, but he said he would look at the Senate amendments carefully.

Vallario’s committee held a hearing on a similar bill, and a bill to legalize marijuana yesterday.

Supporters of legalizing marijuana say they don’t have the votes to pass the measure this year. They see the bill passed today as an alternative.

The bill was sponsored by Baltimore County Delegate Bobby Zirkin who notes "20,000 Marylanders are on Maryland Case Search (the state's online criminal record data base)," for this offense. He says those people cannot get jobs, or into college, because of their arrest.

Zirkin says because this is a civil fine, an arrest under this bill would not be listed on the public website.